Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

Happy Meatless Monday. It was a brownie lovin’ type of weekend and I think you are going to love these. They are an easy to prepare, over the top in flavor dessert for your Meatless Monday or any day. Sweets can be even sweeter when they are compassionately created.

On Saturday morning  two incredibly kind friends came over to move a fridge from our driveway  to our basement. It was pouring rain and we did not have a hand cart. It was harder than it needed to be. As a thank you, I made peanut butter and dark chocolate brownies for them to take home and enjoy. I named them Thank You Brownies because what better way to thank someone than by giving them a cruelty free gift of foodie joy? Nothing was harmed or exploited in the making of these brownies. I think that says thank you in a big way.  I not only thank you but I care about you and your health. I modified the Engine 2  brownie recipe so these are oil free, dairy free and so abundant in flavor and dark chocolate, you will not believe it.

Thank You Brownies

Original recipe from the Engine 2 Diet and slightly modified by: S. Duquet

Ingredients

1/2 C light brown sugar, packed

1/2 C raw sugar

1 C unsweetened applesauce

1 Tbsp Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 1/4 C water (whisk this really well)

1/4 C + 2 Tbsp non dairy milk of your choice. I used vanilla coconut milk.

1 1/2 Tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 Tsp apple cider vinegar

1/1/2 C whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 C cocoa powder

1 Tsp baking soda

1/2 Tsp sea salt

1 1/2 C dairy free dark chocolate chocolate chips or chunks (Sometimes you can find these in the regular grocery store and they are much cheaper than the health food store. Just make sure they are dairy free.

1/2 -3/4 C Nut butter of your choice. Use as much as you would like.

Make It Happen

~Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

~Combine the sugars and applesauce with an electric mixer. Beat in Ener-G mixture, soy milk, vanilla and vinegar.

~Combine the dry ingredients (except the chocolate chips or chunks) in a separate bowl and mix well with a wisk. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, then fold in the chocolate chips.

~Spread the batter into a sprayed 9 by 13 inch baking dish.

~Warm peanut butter just enough to make it spreadable. Dollop all over the top of your brownies. Take a butter knife and drag it through the brownie mixture North to South then East to West. This will make a lovely pattern on the top and will spread the peanut butter throughout the batter.

~Bake for 16-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Mine took the full 20. I did the toothpick test two or three times to find a clean spot and it was definitely done even though the first pick came out moist. It may have hit a chip so do it a few times.

~Allow brownies to cool completely before cutting. Or do what I did and cut while hot…burn your fingers and your mouth just making sure they are good enough to be Thank You Brownies. These were so good we decided to thank ourselves with the leftovers.

A No Beast Feast Winner

Congratulations Connie M.  you have won two tickets to the second annual  No Beast Feast to benefit the Dearborn Animal Shelter. Thank you to all who entered and to all who support their local animal shelters.

Tickets are still available for No Beast Feast this Friday eve starting at 6pm if you are interested in joining in the fun.  More info or to purchase tix click here.

Have a delicious day.

Tags: compassionate eating, dairy free, E2 Diet, Engine 2 Diet, going veg, Meatless Monday, Meatless Monday recipe, No Beast Feast, oil free brownie recipe, oil free dessert recipe, plant based diet, plant strong, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan brownies, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan peanut butter chocolate brownies, vegan recipe, vegan transition, vegan wannabe, vegetarian recipe